Kerala Cabinet criticises appearance of TN AG in Court against State govt.

The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday criticised the appearance of the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu P. S. Raman as counsel for lottery distributors in a case against the Kerala government before the High Court of Kerala.

The Cabinet observed that it was improper on the part of Mr. Raman to have represented Santiago Martin’s Megha distributors in the lottery case. Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan will write to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi conveying its views, an official release said.

Mr. Raman appeared for Megha distributors, who claim to be the promoters of Sikkhim and Bhutan lotteries in Kerala, after Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi withdrew from representing them following protests from the State unit of the Congress.

The Congress criticised Mr. Raman also with Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy describing his conduct as constitutionally improper and in violation of the law. Mr. Chandy said on Tuesday that the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu should not have appeared in a case against a decision taken by the State Government.

The State government had discontinued acceptance of advance tax from Megha distributors for sale of the lottery tickets on various counts of alleged irregularities and illegalities which is now being challenged by the distributors before the Court.

Free rations:

The Cabinet decided to sanction two weeks’ free rations to people hit by heavy rain and floods in Kollam district.

It congratulated the winners of national film awards from Kerala. It also decided to seek conduct of the Jnanapith Award presentation ceremony in Kerala against the background of Malayalam poet O. N. V. Kurup winning the award, the release said.